Australian Julian Wilson was certainly a long shot for this year's World Title, but he did his part to keep things interesting. On Sunday morning he survived a tough Round Two match against wildcard Benji Brand at the Billabong Pipe Masters to advance to Round Three, where he followed with another impressive win against Ezekiel Lau.
Julian Wilson earns an 9.93 in Round Three Heat 1.
The Australian's Title hopes were hinging on a Pipe Masters win, but he also needed John John Florence to lose in Round Three, and that didn't happen. Wilson has gone from contender to spoiler now that we're into Round Four, and you can bet the former Pipe Master will be relishing the role.
Julian Wilson - WSL / Tony Heff
Julian Wilson Now in Spoiler Role After Falling Out of Title Contention
WSL
Australian Julian Wilson was certainly a long shot for this year's World Title, but he did his part to keep things interesting. On Sunday morning he survived a tough Round Two match against wildcard Benji Brand at the Billabong Pipe Masters to advance to Round Three, where he followed with another impressive win against Ezekiel Lau.
The Australian's Title hopes were hinging on a Pipe Masters win, but he also needed John John Florence to lose in Round Three, and that didn't happen. Wilson has gone from contender to spoiler now that we're into Round Four, and you can bet the former Pipe Master will be relishing the role.
Julian Wilson
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The 10th stop on tour and the final proving ground as the world's best look to clinch their spots in the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Take a look
Featuring Ethan Ewing, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Italo Ferreira, Jordy Smith, Samuel Pupo, Jack Robinson. Yago Dora, Gabriel Medina, Carissa
Featuring Gabriel Medina, Lakey Peterson, Filipe Toledo, Yago Dora, Carissa Moore, Johanne Defay, and Julian Wilson.
A slight uptick in swell provided moments of high-caliber surfing from the Challenger Series' contingent looking to crack a big result.
Billabong Pipe Masters
In 2017, Owen Wright returned to Pipeline -- the scene of a serious injury which had threatened to derail his surfing career.
The Tour comes down to the North Shore of Oahu, and the world's most challenging wave.